Adjustable straw guide for binders



March 23 1926.

- P. GERLACH ADJUSTABLE STRAW GUIDE FOR BINDERS Filed Dec. 21 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Earlach Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICB I.

PAUL GERLACH, OF SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA; AGNES M. GERLACH EXECUTRIX 0F SAID PAUL. GERLAGH, DECEASED.

ADJUSTABLE STRAW.GUIDE FOR BINDERS.

Application -fi1ed December 21, 1923. Serial No. 682,635.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL subject of the King of Great Britain, resid ing at Saskatoon, Province of Saskatchewan,

:Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Adjustable Straw Guide for Binders,'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved means for use in connection with grain bindersto accurately assemble the grain intoa sheaf without loss thereof.

The primary ob ect of this invention is the provision of an attachment for grain binders and the like which is of relatively simple formation, but which will very efgrain or straw is not of the particular length 1 for which the binder is adjusted. Because of such, loss is occasioned in a great many instances because the straw is relatively short. Another instance is the fact that the straw varies in length during the cutting thereof. Again, during windy weather it is very difficult to keep the binder reel ad-.

justed in proper position, and the wind boards do not always effectively take care of maintaining the grain or straw in the proper position for binding the same into sheaves. Very often in cutting ripe, stiff, fibered straw of any length the operation of the binder elevators is not suitable for the proper binding of the grain into sheaf assemblage. It is well known that with this type of straw the grain is diagonally disposed upon the elevators, so that as it begins to leave the elevator canvass at the top, the most forward ends of the straw will fall toward the deck and this of course lifts the rear of the straw so that the fast moving elevator will engage the same andshove it' out of the proper relation upon thedeck, preventing the proper guiding thereof into the sheaf. \Vith the improved adjustable straw guide the disadvantages incident to the ordinary binder, as aboveenumerated, are overcome and the straw is guided into proper relation with respect to the packer GERLAOH, a

mechanism of the bind'er so that no loss of grain or straw results.

A further object of, this invention is the provision of a grain binder straw guiding attachment of the above, mentioned charac ter which is very flexible in operation, and will retain the sheaf in proper relation im- 1 til the time for discharge thereof from the grain binder deck.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 7 I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grain binder of conventional construction, showing the improved straw guide attachment as embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved straw guide attachment as used in connection with deck details of a binder. I,

F ig. 3 is aview illustrating the details shown in Figure 2, however, showing the improved straw guide mechanism adjusted for guiding'fiowing straw or grain into proper sheaf bearing relation.

Figs. 4; and 5 are other views illustrating mechanism. j j A In thedrawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but the preferred embodiment of this invention the letter A may generally designate a binder of conventional construction, associated" with which is the improved adjustable straw guide mechanism B.

, Referring to the binder A, the same may preferably include a frame 10; the ordinary; reel 11; horizontal platform structure 1F, inclined elevator-mechanism 12,- deck con struction 13; packer mechanism 14: asso-- ciated with the ordinary deck slot 15; and bundle carrier .17. 1 V

The deck construction 13 is preferably formed of twosections, as in conventional binder construction and connected ,in any appropriate manner to the frame 10 so that they are inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal at one side of the frame. The hood or cover'20 is carried in any approved manner over the'top 'portion'of the deck 13, and at the front thereof.

J different adjustments of the' straw guide Referring to the improved adjustable guide means 13, the same includes a sheet 30 of galvanized sheet metal or any analo-- gous material, whichinherently will assume a plane, but which is flexible in character so that it may be arcuately adjusted or rolled as will be subsequently described. This sheet 30 is preferably attached to the deck 13 of a binder A as by nail or other securing elements 31 and 32 adjacent the front edge 33 in proximity to the slot 15 which is adapted to receive certain details of the packer mechanism of the binder. The lower marginal edge 35 of the sheet 30 is preferably flush with or lies against the lower edge portion 36 of the deck 13. T1 6 upper margin 37 of the flexible sheet or guide'inember 3O lies adjacent the top marginal edge of the deck 13,, and itlOBg this portion toward the front edge of the sheet 30 said sheet may be disposed beneath the overlapping flange. which is in practically all instances provided upon the decks of binders, and

which is shown at 40 in Figure l of the drawings. This 40 is only of sufficient length to extend partly along the sheet 30. and interferes in no manner whatsoever with the adjustable rolling of the same to effectthe purpose to be subsequently described. The sheet 30 is longer than the deck portion to. which it is secured, and extends for a considerable distance beyond the rearedge 41 of the deck 13, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The lower rear corner of the sheet 30 is. re-. moved, roviding a beveled edge 45 which is diagonallydisposed on the plate 30, and at an obtuse angle with respect to the lower marginal edge 35. and the rear mari l fll edge 46 ofsai'd sheet.

-Suitable means 47 may beprovided to effect the adjustable positioning of the sheet 30 in a desired manner to guide grain or straw of a Jarticular kind or size; this construction 4. preferably including a flexible cable. 48, such as a rope, which at one end is connected to a spiral expansion spring 49; the spiral expansion spring 4S)vv at its opposite end with respect to. connection with the cable 48 being connected, as by a hook 5.0, at the corner on the flexible sheet 30 defined by intersection of the beveled edge 45 with the rear edge 46. The hook 5O is. thus positioned upon the guide sheet 30 at a point rearwardly of the lower marginal edge 3.5, substantially one-third the distance from the lower to the upper marginal edges of said sheet, and which has bee'n'pro- 'vided for the purpose of rolling the sheet in a proper manner to guide the flowing straw, The cable 48 from its connection with the spring 49 is diagonally extended across the sheet 30 toward the upper front corner thereof and is trained over a swivel pulley 53 which is carried by the hood or cover 20 of the binder. From the pulley '53 the cable 48 extends to the forward portion of the hood 20 where it is trained about second pulley structul'e 55 and is tlren returned to: d the rea at the bind in a length An attaching bracket 57 is preferably connested at the rear edge of the hood 20, providing a pair of spaced fingers between which the length 56 of the cable 48 may be placed, so that any of a series of knots 60, may engage said fingers to retain the cable in a desired position. As is. illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings the cable 48v from the attaching bracket 57 may extend for a loose connection with the seat 62 of the binder A. In operation, assuming that it is the desire to use the binder without recourse to the use of the straw guide attachment B, it is merely necessary toset the cable 48 with respect to the bracket 57 as to permit the sheet 30 to flatten itself upon the deck 41, into substantially the position shown in Figure 2. In the use of the improved attachment for the guiding of grain or straw into proper assembled rela: tion whereby to prevent loss of any of the same it is merely necessary for the operator in the seat 62 to grasp the cable 48 and draw the same toward him. This will flex the sheet 3 by starting the rolling of the same in a diagonal manner from the lower rear corner thereof, and the sheet 30 may be placed substantially as is illustrated in Fig ure 3 0f the drawings for the adjustableguid ing of straw of relatively long; character into. the proper relation with respect to the packer mechanism of the binder. The sheet 30 will always tend to diagonally roll toward the upperfront corner upon rearward pulling of the adjusting means 47, since it is apparent that the connection of the adjust mg means 47 with the sheet 30, is nearer the lower edge of the sheet than the upper edge, and is to the rear thereof. The lower rear corner of the sheet 30 has been removed to prevent the possibility of the discharge arm mechanism of the binder engaging the flexible Sheet 30. when it is rolled to. considerable degree for guiding relatively short straw or grain into sheaf bearing relation.

Several adjustments. of the sheet 30 have been given in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the latter figure illustrating p ossibly the greatest adjustment of the sheet 30 to guide flowing straws which are relatively short into. proper relation with each other and with the packer mechanism of the binder without loss of any of the straws as is now the case with conventional binders.

After the sheaf has been formed on the deck and the sheet 30 has properly guided the straws to form the sheaf, in some instances, as where the sheet 30 is rolled on a small radius some means must be provided so that the sheaf will roll off the deck sheet 3b at the lower arcuate corner thereof. The weight of the sheaf furnishes sufficient pressure to accomplish this function, and the flexible character of the sheet together with the fact that the same is supported in its guiding rolled relation by the adjusting mechanism 47 at a point above the lower edge furnishes the means which will perniit the sheaf to pass off the deck. It is easy to understand that the pressure of the sheaf on the lower portion of the sheet 30, after the sheaf has been formed, will be sufficient to rock the lower rolled portion of the sheet 30 to permit of its displacement. The spring 49, incident to its extensible character also aids in the flexibility of the guide member 30 to perform the functions for which it is adapted.

In order that the guide member or sheet 30 may have the requisite flexibility a diagonal strip of spring metal may extend from the lower rear corner of the sheet 30 as provided by the juncture of the beveled edge l5 with the rear edge 46 to the upper forward corner of said sheet. In lieu of this means of providing the required resiliency in the sheet 80 the same may be formed of a pair of sheets in superposed relation, of relatively thin gage.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that an attachment has been provided which is of an improved character and will properly guide straws of varying lengths into proper sheaf forming relation. The flexibility of the guide mem ber 30 together with the flexibility of its adjusting and supporting means 47 enables the attachment to support the grain or straw in a proper relation until the sheaf is formed, thus obtaining an advantage which is not present to an eflicient degree in expedients now used for such purpose. After the sheaf has been released the sheet 30 will, of course, incident to its inherent tendency snap back into the adjusted position in which it has been set.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a straw guiding attachment the combination with a binder including a deck, deck hood, and packer mechanism, of a sheet of flexible material with an inherent tendency to assume a flat relation, means securing said sheet of material to the binder deck adjacent the packer mechanism thereof so that the rear portion thereof is free to be rolled over the deck, a flexible cable, means connecting the cable to the deck hood of the binder, and means connecting an end of said cable to a lower portion of the sheet whereby upon drawing of the cable taut the sheet may be rolled in a diagonal manner over the deck as a guide for flowing grain. I

2. In a sheaf forming attachment the combination with a binder including a deck, deck hood of a sheet of flexible material, means connecting the sheet of flexible material to the binder deck so that the same may be rolled with respect to the binder deck to provide a guide for straw flowing over the deck, a cable, means connecting the cablefor adjustment to the hood of the binder deck, and a spring connecting said cable to a portion of the sheet whereby upon drawing of the cable taut the sheet may be rolled to provide a straw guide.

3. In a sheaf forming and supporting attachment the combination with a binder including a deck, deck hood, and packer mechanism, of a substantially polygonal shaped sheet of flexible metal having the lower rear corner thereof removed, means connecting the sheet of material to the deck of the binder adjacent the packer mechanism of the lower edge of said sheet of material,

and means for securing said cable in a desired position so that the sheet of material may be supported in a diagonally rolled relation of a required degree.

4. In a guide attachment for hinders the combination with a binder including a deck of a flexible sheet of metal, means for connecting the sheet at one end to the deck of the binder so that the other end is free to be rolled, and means connected with said sheet at the lower rear corner of the free end for rolling the sheet upwardly and diagonally from said corner across said sheet to provide an arcuate guide for grain.

In a grain adjusting mechanism for binders the combination with a binder ineluding a deck, and packer mechanism, a flexible sheet of material, means attaching the sheet to the deck of the binder adjacent to the packer mechanism so that the outer portion thereof is free, and means resiliently connected at the free outer portion of said sheet for rolling the sheet towards the packer mechanism.

PAUL GERLACH. 

